Wrong question. Why not? I want everything to be encrypted. Something must be left out and it should be the least possible amount. Leaving out the kernel is clearly not the least possible.

> I want everything to be encrypted.

Why?

Then UEFI boot is not for you.

That's the only one that's there unless you have custom firmware for the motherboard. So with UEFI, GRUB being left out is pretty small in comparison with leaving out the whole kernel.

Have you ever looked at Grub more closely?

It's actually a whole operating system by now!

Only a very shitty one, and in comparison not well maintained…